Eczema: Types, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 3 Nov 2026

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics

Synopsis

Learn what eczema is, the types from atopic to contact dermatitis, common symptoms and causes, plus treatments and lifestyle changes that help manage itchy skin.

At a Glance

• 1 - Eczema is not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person.
• 2 - The word eczema comes from a Greek term meaning to effervesce, bubble, or boil over.
• 3 - There is no cure for eczema, and while steroids have long been used to treat it, they do not cure the condition.
• 4 - Most people with eczema can swim, though some with severe cases find pool chemicals or seawater salt make their symptoms worse.

Topic Definition

Eczema

Eczema, also called dermatitis, is not a single illness but a group of related skin conditions marked by inflammation, dryness, and itching. The affected skin often becomes red, hot, and swollen, and in mild cases it simply feels dry and itchy, while more severe forms can crack, bleed, and take a long time to heal. A range of factors can bring it on, including other diseases, irritating substances, allergies, and a person's own genetic makeup, and although it can look alarming it is neither dangerous nor contagious. Eczema affects people of every age and background but most commonly appears in infants, and its many types, from the widespread atopic form to irritant, allergic, varicose, and discoid varieties, each have their own triggers. Because it is a chronic condition with no cure, care centers on identifying the type, avoiding triggers, moisturizing the skin, and using medication when needed.

Overview

Eczema is actually a group of skin conditions and is defined as a term for several types of skin swelling. Eczema, which includes atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis, is not dangerous, but most types cause red, swollen and itchy skin. Factors that can cause eczema include other diseases, irritating substances, allergies and your genetic makeup. Although it may sometimes look like a contagious condition, eczema is not contagious. People from all walks of life and all ages live with eczema; however, it typically appears in infants.

Symptoms related to eczema depend on the causes and severity of the form of eczema. A person with mild eczema has dry, hot, and itchy skin. Severe eczema causes the skin to crack, bleed, and often takes a long time to heal. Inflammation in the area is common depending on the type of eczema.

Type of Eczema Include

• Atopic eczema - Most common form of eczema; affects both children and adults. Symptoms include; extreme itchiness, dryness of the skin, redness, inflammation.
• Irritant contact dermatitis - Occurs when skin becomes irritated by detergents and other chemicals (e.g., perfumes, soaps, bubble bath powder and more).
• Varicose eczema - Affects skin on the lower legs and is caused by poor circulation of blood.
• Allergic contact dermatitis - Body's immune system attacks a substance in the skin. - Symptoms are similar to those listed for atopic eczema.
• Infantile seborrheic eczema - Found on infants under one-year-old. - Often looks unpleasant but does not impact the infant's comfort and may appear on the scalp or bottom.
• Discoid eczema - Typically associated with adults. - Found on upper body and lower legs.

Dealing with Eczema

To deal with eczema, you need to figure out what type of eczema you have. A doctor can help a person living with eczema or someone caring for a child with eczema manage the condition.

Diagnosis of eczema is not simple.

A doctor must look at the person's medical history, when they first recognized the condition, and what triggers the condition.

Some people with atopic dermatitis have allergies and may need allergy testing, especially if treatment with medication is not working.

Lifestyle Changes

However, some of these lifestyle changes work for some people and not others. Some changes to consider include:

Wearing cotton clothing and using cotton bedding to reduce the itchiness associated with the condition. Synthetic fibers don't allow the skin to breathe, and wool can irritate the skin.

Use fragrance-free, dye-free laundry detergents, and avoid fabric softeners. Perfumed detergents and fabric softeners may increase itchiness and cause a person to scratch more often. As a result, not using them may help reduce the skin's itchiness.

Vacuuming, dusting, and changing bedding regularly. This is critical because it reduces the number of house dust mites and the droppings from dust mites that are found in bedding, mattresses, curtains, and carpets.

Possible changes to the foods you eat. Even though the link between diet and eczema is not conclusive, introducing changes to certain foods consumed in some severe cases of eczema, especially in babies and young children, seems beneficial. Always ask your doctor before making dietary changes to ensure the foods eaten will include all necessary nutrients for growth and development.

Common treatments for people with eczema require moisturizing of the skin and use of medications, if necessary. Treatment is usually based on a person's age, health, medical history as well as the type and severity of eczema.

Possible Treatments

Lotions and creams, these products are applied directly on the skin to keep in as much moisture as possible. Thick, fragrance-free creams and ointments usually work best; "organic" or "natural" products are not necessarily gentler, and some plant ingredients can irritate the skin. Moisturizing the skin after showering helps lock in moisture.

Medications such as topical steroids, oral steroids, and topical immunomodulators: Prescription and non-prescription corticosteroids come in the form of creams and ointments that can be applied to the skin. Prescription corticosteroids are more potent than non-prescription ointments, but both have potential side effects, especially if used for long periods of time.

Oral steroids are typically prescribed for severe outbreaks. Topical immunomodulators, such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, and newer non-steroid creams such as crisaborole, ruxolitinib, roflumilast and tapinarof do not contain steroids and are available by prescription to treat atopic eczema. For moderate to severe atopic eczema, doctors may also prescribe injected biologic medicines such as dupilumab (approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2017), tralokinumab and lebrikizumab, or JAK inhibitor pills.

Other tips that may help people with eczema improve the skin's condition include:

• Keeping nails short
• Relaxing to reduce stress.
• Avoiding sudden changes in temperatures (e.g., going from cold environments to hot environments)

Facts About Eczema

• Eczema is not a type of acne, they are entirely different conditions.
• The word eczema comes from a Greek word that means to effervesce or bubble or boil over.
• There is no cure for eczema. Although steroids have been used for a long time to treat eczema, they are not a cure.
• Eczema is a chronic disease. You can prevent some types of eczema by avoiding irritants, stress, and the things you are allergic to.
• The most common type of eczema is atopic dermatitis. It is an allergic condition that makes your skin dry and itchy. It is most common in babies and children.
• Most people with eczema can go swimming. However, some people who have severe eczema find that the chemicals used in swimming pools or the salt in seawater makes their eczema worse.
• Hand eczema affects the hands, often the palms and fingers, and may sometimes be difficult or impossible to differentiate from atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and psoriasis, which also commonly involve the hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is eczema the same as psoriasis?

Eczema and psoriasis are different conditions that can look similar, especially on the hands, so a doctor may be needed to tell them apart and guide treatment.

Can eczema go away on its own?

Some children see eczema improve or fade as they grow, but because it is chronic it often comes and goes, and managing triggers helps reduce flare-ups.

What foods can trigger eczema?

The link between diet and eczema is not conclusive, though in some severe cases, especially in young children, certain foods may play a role, so ask a doctor before changing the diet.

Does stress make eczema worse?

Stress can worsen eczema for many people, which is why relaxing and finding ways to lower stress are often suggested as part of managing the condition.

Is eczema more common in children or adults?

Eczema most often first appears in infants and young children, particularly the atopic type, though it can affect people of any age including adults.

How can I stop eczema itching at night?

Keeping nails short, moisturizing before bed, using cotton bedding, and keeping the room cool can all help reduce the nighttime itching linked to eczema.

Can weather affect eczema?

Sudden changes in temperature and very dry or cold air can trigger eczema, so avoiding abrupt shifts between hot and cold environments may help keep skin calmer.

What is atopic dermatitis?

Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema, causing dry, itchy, inflamed skin that often starts in childhood. It is linked to asthma and hay fever and tends to run in families.

Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team. Last updated: 3 Nov 2026